Easy ideas for bringing people together

HAPPY NEW YEAR from VOLUNTEERSPOT!

From health and fitness, to family, finances, and travel, top New Year's resolutions are never without the desire to VOLUNTEER and give back in the New Year. We hope you resolve to volunteer in 2012 - please tell us how you plan to give back in 2012 over on our facebook wall, and click below to grab your badge!

In the garage, I was met with a limited space to walk around. {#FireDude had pulled the car forward in order to get the tree stand down}. I also made a mental note of the vacuum hose that had been left in the middle of the walkway.

Arms full of supplies, my water bottle & a snack I attempted the obstacle course.

All this to say:

I fell down.

It's just embarrassing to say "I fell down" as an adult. So I had to give you the entire scenario.

During my last step, the 4" heel pulled up the hose and took me right down.

Saving grace?

The dog has a fantastic squishy bed that is positioned right by my driver's side front wheel.

It broke the fall for the upper body.

The lower body, wasn't so lucky.

After a doctor visit I was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, given a brace, assigned crutches and told to stay off of it for 6 weeks.

Um. Did you just hear the sound effects of semi-truck breaks in your mind too?

Yes, the doc said 6 weeks.

I laughed. Then I cried.

Back to today.

I thought "no problem, I have a laptop & an excellent internet connection". Ha!

Little did I know how long it would take me to get truly bored.

Especially at a time when everyone is gearing up for exercise??? Uuggghhhh.

I knew I had hit an all time low when I was getting bored with Pinterest!

Storytelling & the Power of Shared Experienced | Worship Wednesday

Our post today comes from Rabbi Will Berkovitz of RepairTheWorld. We found it exceptionally beautiful and relevant for the holiday and New Year season - we hope you do as well.

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"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing." – Pissarro

The priest walked past the prostitutes every day. He had no choice. They were stationed along the narrow road across from his seminary in Italy. But it was the older woman who caused him the most agitation. “These young guys went to ‘see’ her and it really troubled me,” he said. “She could have been their mother.”

The priest confessed he never spoke with the women, studiously avoided eye contact and did his best to never acknowledge their existence. But as is often the case, willed blindness only works for so long when proximity is coupled with repetition. And one day, while following his usual protocol of denial the older prostitute dropped something as he was walking past. It bounced to a stop at his foot.

Without thinking, the priest’s instinct toward kindness compelled him to pick up the thin wooden object, forcing the encounter he had so dutifully avoided for the past several months. “It was a knitting needle,” he said, still sounding surprised. “And out of curiosity, I asked her what she was making.” The woman responded, “I’m knitting a tapestry for the alter at my church. It is a gift for God.”

Tears welled up in the priest’s eyes as he recalled her response. “In my desire to avoid her, I had never noticed the cloth in her hands. I never bothered to look. Never thought to ask her story. And here this woman was knitting a gift for God.” From that chance encounter he said, he began to learn her history. Her background. Her story. And yet the priest was reluctant to share his experience with his community despite its almost biblical power and impact.

Many of the holiest moments in life are not found in churches or synagogues or in the cloistered study of sacred literature. No, the sacred moments that sustain and bind us together are the sharing of our common humanity through simple encounter -- the telling and hearing of our stories, the passing along of our experiences – both epic and passing. I imagine our souls being woven out of our memories and stories – the threads of our lives.

Everyone has a story to tell and deserves to tell it. And the simple acts of inquiry and listening are among the greatest gifts we can offer during this Holiday season or any other season. Telling and hearing our stories is a rare instance of a gift given and received in two directions – at once an act of solidarity and reciprocity. It knits together the fabric of our separate lives into a common tapestry. We are taught at an early age not to talk to strangers, but often we keep people as strangers when we could be building relationships. We build bunkers instead of communities.

By stopping on the sidewalk and asking what the woman was knitting, the priest stepped off the path of indifference and onto the path of encounter. He stopped seeing a prostitute to be ignored and saw the face of person to engage. He awoke from a life of service to rituals and the comfort in his known world to the truth that all life is sacred. And life is made holy when service to God means service to others. And then choosing to live that truth in everyday actions – small acts of kindness and humanity – like engaging in a conversation.

Listening to someone’s story is a way of showing respect, a way of conveying dignity. At a time of year when many of us will be rushing around doing last minute shopping and some of us will volunteering in shelters, food banks and serving meals, we should step further along the path – strive toward a deeper connection and ask to hear a bit, or a bit more, of someone’s story.

In truth, it doesn’t matter if we are hearing a story for the first time shared by a complete stranger or for the thousandth time told by a close relative. Just as some people expect to be heard, listened to -- even obeyed, others are just as accustomed to being ignored, stepped over, forgotten – even used. And it is not always easy to distinguish one from the other. But the humble shrub and the trembling mountain both hold the voice of God.

This time every year we retell stories of our people – we call them miracles – a baby being born in a manger, or a small group of believers overcoming the odds to survive – the miracle of light in the darkness. When we tell and ask to hear our stories we knit together the fabrics of our separate journeys onto the tapestry of humanity. And in that way we not only offer a gift to each other, we offer a gift to God who the tradition says created people because of a love of stories.

Rabbi Will Berkovitz is the Vice President of Partnerships and Rabbi in Residence for Repair the World (WeRepair.org), a national organization that seeks to make service a defining element of American Jewish life. He can be reached at will@weRepair.org and you can follow him on Twitter at @CitizenRabbi.

Some of us are wishing there were extra days in December (or at least 25 hours in the day)! January is fast approaching and we’re still in holiday mode.

Take a moment between sips of eggnog and grandma’s pumpkin pie to put a stake in the ground to increase Volunteer Engagement in 2012. DO ONE THING —Plan a First-of-the-Year Volunteer Gathering. (Then head back to the football games, tinsel and cheese balls.)

Host a January Gathering and Jumpstart Volunteer Engagement in 2012

Simple or elaborate, kick-start the New Year with a January volunteer gathering. Host a coffee break, a chili luncheon, potluck, or pizza party. Offer a look back at 2011 and present plans for the year ahead – goals, big events, greatest volunteer needs, introduce new leaders and coordinators, etc.

Here are 6 simple ways to make the New Year’s kickoff a success:

Before the meeting, ask volunteers to share photos from 2011 events on your facebook page; request they add stories, anecdotes and favorite memories of their volunteer experiences over the year. Create a scrapbook from the images - publish a hardcopy for sharing or a pdf (soft copy) for emailing.

Review the goals and accomplishments of your year of volunteering with hard numbers and facts -- from how many kids you helped read, to how many families were fed, how much money your fundraiser pulled in, how many badges your troop merited, how many games your team won, etc.

Thank your 2011 volunteers with a slideshow or posters describing your collective impact, pictures of volunteers in action, and of course… treats!

Ask for feedback. What worked well and what would volunteers like to see improved in the new year? Sometimes simple things like changing the start time of a shift or creating a designated volunteer parking place can make a world of difference.

Outline your goals for 2012 and call for volunteers! Be ready with online sign up sheets to organize your new year, semester, or season of service. Share the link at your meeting and directly after via email.

The New Year’s meeting is the perfect time for a fresh start to invite people who have not had the chance to volunteer yet. Let them know you would love to see them participate in 2012 – ask what special talents or skills they might be able to contribute and partner them with your active contributors.

Here's to a brand new year in service! Let us know what your volunteer team or organization is planning for 2012 over on facebook!

Holiday Giving - Creative Ideas For The College-Age Crowd

The fury of finals are over, and the much-needed trip home from college is concluded. College winter break becomes a haven of home-cooked meals and homework-free fun. While catching up with friends (and attending those obligatory family events), take a few moments to engage your charitable spirit in thoughtful holiday giving.

1. Make Space: Convey the spirit of giving by holding a holiday ‘gift-away’ —Take stock of your room, your closet and belongings left at home. What clothes, outerwear, sports equipment or musical instruments do you no longer have need for? Donate them! Assess your electronics too. What do you really need, what can you do without? Schools and charities welcome desktops, laptops, computer screens, printers and iProducts. (Suggestion: See Tips for Donating a Computer.)

2. Donate a Create-A-Project: Contact your local library, faith group, or a nonprofit you care about and let them know you are available to help during Winter Break. Gather other friends home for the break, explain your background, interests, and how many people they can expect for a bite-sized project that fits with your schedule and skill sets. For example:

Bring your friends and play with/socialize pets at a local shelter.

Read holiday stories to kids at the library, shelter or community kitchen.

Play chess and board games with nursing home residents.

Social-media savvy? Help a nonprofit setup their facebook page or update their website and blog.

Love the outdoors? Help refurbish a playground, clear trails or remove graffiti.

3. Give a Smile: It’s the holiday season, after all – so be extra nice! Make eye-contact and say hello to the homeless men and women you may encounter on the street. Fill your pockets with granola bars when you go out, specifically to give away. Buy a warm cup of coffee for a cold stranger, donate dollars and toys when asked to do so while shopping, and be patient and kind with small children.

4. Shop for the Hungry: Amidst all the shopping for cookie supplies and holiday dinner fixings, take a minute in the grocery store and pick out canned or nonperishable goods to donate to a local food bank. Large cans of hearty soups, beans and chili are most requested. (Tip: Consider giving cash. $1 = 12 lbs of food to a foodbank!)

5. Get Fit while Giving to a Good Cause: Work off all the holiday sweets and treats by entering a charity fun run! Running (or walking) in a race where the entry fees go to a cause you care about gives back to you and your charity. Recruit your friends, the more the merrier!

6. Donate a Round to Charity: While celebrating with your friends in town for Winter Break, agree to skip a round (or two) of drinks (or coffee) and donate the money to a local charity. Make the donation in the name of a favorite teacher, coach, or friend.

The memories you’ll create during the short winter break weeks, while giving, sharing and volunteering, will be much more memorable and worthwhile than extra levels on a video game or ‘just another movie night.' Get out there and make your break count. Give back and lose yourself in the fun of serving others!

From our VolunteerSpot family to yours, THANK YOU for making a world of difference! May you and yours have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

When presented with the challenge of how to revitalize the dead space around and underneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, artist Ellie Balk, with the help of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project and a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, decided to paint it. After nearly a year of preparation, Balk began painting under the BQE at Steuben Street in Clinton Hill in mid-September. She found inspiration for the mural, called Soundwaves, after painting a piano for the Sing for Hope Pop Up Piano installation earlier this year.

Today, our VolunteerSpotlight shines on Ellie Balk, who used VolunteerSpot to coordinate community volunteers who helped paint the mural.

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.I am a Community Artist and worked with Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project in getting a National Endowment for the Arts Fast Track grant to paint a mural in the community. The mural spot was in a rough area under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway over-pass. Unlike other murals I have worked on in more populated areas, this mural called for a different kind of organization for volunteers. People had to know exactly when and where we were to come out to help paint. This is why we turned to VolunteerSpot so that we could have our painting schedule posted and allow people to choose the best time slot for them and to have all the information about the project in one space. It was very professional. One of the coolest features in setting up volunteers in this way was that we didn't necessarily know the volunteers that signed up. We found a wide range of people that were interested in being part of the Public Art project and they were able to join us on their schedule. It was wonderful to meet interesting people who believed in our mission.

How did you get started as a volunteer leader? I have been organizing and painting murals with the community in Brooklyn for over 8 years. Originally from St. Louis, MO, I moved to New York in 2003 to get my Masters in Fine Art from Pratt Institute. I feel in love with the neighborhood and community and have been working with the residents of Brooklyn creating public artworks ever since.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?For leaders, I think it is so important to be clear on your needs for the project and to have everything prepared and ready for your volunteers. It is also important to ask your volunteers what their skills are so that you can place them in something that they will excel at and to allow them to feel some ownership to the project.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?I used VolunteerSpot because I found the interface easy to navigate and simple for volunteers to see the scope of the project and be able to sign up according to their schedule. I liked that people could see how many others had signed up for the days available. It was also nice to have the emails of the volunteers and we were able to send messages and reminders for their time slots.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?For more information about our Soundwaves Mural Project under the BQE, please visit the blog at www.soundwavesmural.blogspot.com. And for more information about upcoming projects, please visit www.elliebalk.com

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We salute Ellie Balk and all the other artists and volunteer coordinators out there making a difference in the world. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at VS@volunteerspot.com.

With Hanukkah in full swing and Christmas this weekend, the big question on many minds will be "how to say thank you" in a timely and appropriate manner.

How to say Thank You :: making a plan

It seems this tradition has definitely taken a back seat over the years. I can remember my Mom insisting I write Thank You notes before the school winter break was over. If I procrastinated past that, I was grounded until it was done.

Needless to say, I wasn't motivated to continue the appreciative act once I was on my own. However, I was taught well and got those notes out before the beginning of the new year ... most of the time.

Here are some of the strategies I've come up with over the years.

How to say Thank You :: kids

Finding a "pre-formatted" thank you note / letter is a great way to help the kiddos along. At this point in life it is simply about teaching the lesson of etiquette. When you receive a gift, you send a note of appreciation.

How to say Thank You :: adults

Saying thank you to adults can be a bit tricky. Here are some guidelines I follow:

Friends I see daily / weekly / monthly = I literally say "Thank You" upon receipt of the gift {and usually give them a big squishy hug}

Family = if they see me open the gift, I say "Thank You". If the gift is opened at a later date, I call and say "Thank You". If they are older than my parents I send a "Thank You" note.

How to say Thank You :: distant family

With notepad in hand, I keep track of who sent what as the gifts are opened.

Then after all the craziness calms down I gather the kids and we compose a "Family Thank You" note.

Taking a picture of the kids holding the words "Thank You" and then using a stationery site such as TinyPrints to print note cards is a great way to customize the gesture.

Including personal touches such as

"Thank you for the Xbox 360 game! I've already played it a few times and it is awesome ~ {signed} The Pipsqueak"

"Thank you so much for the cash! I've put most of it with the other money I'm saving for my first car and used a little to hang out with friends ~ {signed} The First Born"

**Note: obviously, my boys sign their real names {grin}**

How to say thank You :: volunteers

Saying Thank You as a volunteer that has received a "Thank You" gift may seem a little, well, backwards. I know. But hear me out.

Being appreciated is a wonderful thing. Being appreciated and knowing the etiquette is a fantastic thing.

When you are given a physical gift, etiquette states you acknowledge the gesture with a note. However, if you've simply been sent a "Thank You for your volunteer efforts in {insert year here}" you can relish in their appreciation.

Doing, Caring, and Communing | Worship Wednesday

Often we think we have to have a perfect Christmas for everyone to be happy—including us!

Yet, there may be circumstances beyond our control that are keeping us from having a "perfect" holiday; family stress, illness, divorce, financial strain. Any of these things can interfere with our ability to enjoy the holidays. Wherever you find yourself today, there are some simple things you can do to have a happier Christmas, regardless of your situation.

Recently I read about some scientists conducting a happiness study. Their research revealed that among people who rated themselves "happiest," there were three common patterns. If we incorporate these same habits into our lives this Christmas week, we can drive away the humbugs and bring on the happy!

The first thing about happy people is: They do things they enjoy.

Wow, that's a real epiphany isn't it?

In her book, Women Who Do Too Much, Patricia Sprinkle shares this simple formula for enjoying life more:

Do more of what you enjoy doing.

Do less of what you don't enjoy doing.

Spend more time doing what you are good at.

Spend less time doing things you aren't so good at.

This is a great recipe for keeping the holiday spirit! As we let go of the things we feel we have to do and focus on the things we enjoy doing, we'll feel our stress begin to melt away.

Just this morning I got an email from my sis-in-law who spent the weekend baking. She must have made eight different recipes and she's not finished. Thankfully she is coming to my house for the holiday, so that means...I don't have to bake.

In the past this would have been hard to let go of. But the reality is, I don't enjoy baking nearly as much as I once did. Without kids in the kitchen, it's just not the same. So, letting go of this tradition, while hard, will ultimately help me have a happier time with my family. Plus, we still get to enjoy homemade goodies.

Think about the things you still have to do this week. Which do you really enjoy? Now, about those other things...

What can you delegate? What can you do without? You may be surprised what you can give up and how much happier you will be as a result!

The next thing the study found is: happy people are part of a community.

Finding time to be with people--family, neighbors, church friends, and so on--will help you enjoy your holiday more. Some of you may be thinking, you don't know my family! Well, I actually have my own, so I think I know what you mean. Warts and all, we are made to spend time with others. These meaningful connections ground us and help us have a sense of belonging. If we let go of some of our Hallmark Channel-inspired expectations, and accept people (and ourselves) for what we are, you may be surprised at how much fun they are.

What can you do this week to nurture your sense of community? How about inviting the neighbors over for some hot cider? Or making time to catch up with an old friend? Or stopping by a nursing home and saying hello to a few residents? These things will connect you with others and make you feel better. You will find yourself humming falalala in no time!

The last thing the study showed is: happier people care and do for others.

There is definitely still time to help others this season. And in doing so, we will enrich our own enjoyment of the holidays. Let's face it it feels good to give. And when we reach out beyond ourselves and meet someone else's need, we cheer ourselves up.

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

Pack up extra scarves, hats, and gloves and drop them at the local mission or homeless shelter.

Offer to babysit for a single parent so they can finish up their Christmas shopping.

Purchase a gift card and give it to someone you know could use it.

Any of these generous acts will life your spirits, and you will be making a difference in someone else's Christmas at the same time.

You can have the happiest Christmas yet...by putting these simple steps into action. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect to be merry!

Sue Brage worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com. Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better. Follow Sue on Twitter at @SueBrage and @CVCDaily

10 Thoughtful Tips to Help Children Learn it’s Better to Give than to Get!

Everything about the holiday season sparkles, from the tinsel and shining lights to the twinkle in your child’s eye when staring in shop windows or dreaming of treats and parties. Find a bright new way to light up their world, share the fine art of gift giving with your child this season with these ten creative ideas!

Inspire meaningful giving—Help your child understand gift giving should be based on the likes and wants of the receiving person, not necessarily what your child would most enjoy.

Encourage gift exchanges—When your child wants to give a present to all of their friends, team members, and Scout leaders; suggest instead creating an anonymous drawing and each member commit to giving a gift their secret person this season. Not only does this save money, but it can make the gift your child gives all that more thoughtful.

Theme gifts! —Recommend thinking about what the gift receiver enjoys, what hobbies they may have – theme your gift accordingly.

Give the gift of time or service in the form of coupons—This novelty idea is still a great one and allows a child to truly give back as a present. Mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow, walking dogs, reading to elderly, teaching music; find more ideas for turning hobbies into service with your family.

For those faraway, including grandparents and other relatives—Help your child set up a time to call or Skype so they can share in the joy of the season in person. (Prepare in advance to teach grandma and grandpa how to use Skype, they will thank you!)

Home-made!—Hand-made treats and crafts are perfect for helping spread joy, and when it’s a present your child has made himself, it’s already more meaningful. Festive examples include: picture frames for relatives and best friends, cards, magnets, and easy baked goods (cookies or chocolate dipped candy canes).

For the teacher— Encourage your child to find a way to say Happy Holidays and Thank You! Part of their gift can include writing down and sharing their favorite part of the semester or their favorite book they have read. (Tip: send a copy of the thank you note to the school principal to really share your appreciation, and check out our free Teacher Gift Ideas)!

Give to the community—Have children give to others they don’t know by donating gently used clothes, toys, and books to local organizations.

Give to a cause—If your child has saved up their allowance and wants to donate some if it this season, suggest they do so in the name of someone else – letting that person know how they were inspired by them to give back to that specific cause this holiday season.

Keep it fun!—Make sure your child doesn’t stress about what the person will think or if they will enjoy the gift – convey that a gift from the heart is meaningful no matter what.

What tips and ideas do you have when it comes to teaching the art of gift giving to your children? Leave a comment or tell us over on facebook!

Family Promise of Greater Cleveland is an organization formed from the merger of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland and New Life Community. Our mission is to inspire and empower homeless families to transform their lives, become self-sufficient, and fulfill their promise.

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Lynda Bernays, who uses VolunteerSpot to sign up volunteers for a week of hosting homeless families in her church.

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

The church I attend (Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Hts Ohio) is one of 20-30 faith communities in the Cleveland area who serve as host churches through Family Promise, the local branch of a national agency by the same name. Being a host church means that for three separate weeks during the year we provide dinner and overnight accommodations for a maximum of 14 people in 4 families. Every evening we need volunteers to prepare, bring and serve dinner; help with dinner and clean up; spend the evening interacting (or just being present) with the families and children; and spend the night. During the day the families return to the agency's Family Center. On a given week I work with 40 or 50 volunteers filling 80+ slots.

How did you get started as a volunteer leader?As the head of the church's outreach committee I was sort of the default leader when we started hosting.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?Communicate, communicate, communicate! Use email to its fullest advantage to keep volunteers informed about expectations, routines, changes.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?I had experimented with other on-line sign-ups and found they couldn't accommodate the multi-day, multi-task schedule I needed. I then used Google docs to offer access to a sign-up chart that I created, but not everyone could access it and sometimes even I couldn't. I went back on line in September to see if the on-line sites had improved, and found VolunteerSpot.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?Anyone who is involved in volunteering will tell you that the person who benefits the most is the person doing the volunteering. They will also tell you that recruiting volunteers is the most wearing part of running any volunteer-dependent program.

The program I work with is Family Promise of Greater Cleveland (www.familypromisecle.org). Local agencies work independently but are under the umbrella of the national organization Family Promise. Interfaith Hospitality Network is a commonly used name and was in fact the name of the agency in Cleveland until it merged with another agency that provides services that compliment their work with homeless families. The level that I work with is the emergency housing level -- families in need of shelter can contact the office directly and are offered space, if available, as soon as possible. The children are transported to the school they are currently enrolled in, and the parents receive counseling and services as appropriate -- job training, GED classes, job-search assistance, access to benefits. In the early evening they are driven to that week's host church, and are picked up in the morning to return to the family center and offices, or be taken to school.

As I said earlier, many churches/synagogues in any given area are needed to support the evening program. In Cleveland, Family Promise has 2 host churches every week so in effect needs 104 weeks covered during the year. Each site will host up to 14 people in 4 families. Families stay in the emergency shelter part of the program for up to (I think) 60 days. Family Promise also has a transitional housing program in which families can stay for 16 weeks; this is the partnership I mentioned earlier.

We salute Lynda and all the other volunteer leaders out there making a difference. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at VS@volunteerspot.com.

With all this talk of fund-raising I thought we could shift gears a bit and answer one of the most asked questions when it comes to clutter:

What to do with Christmas cards after the holidays?

Here's why it's hard:

Christmas cards {or any other season's greetings} are emotional clutter.

Friends and family put a lot of effort into sharing their updates with you. Pictures of the growing family, newsletters that document the year, hard earned money spent on printing and postage.

"How dare you just discard that?"

Right?

Um. No.

I give you permission to appreciate all of those things, then discard, at-will, when the season is over.

Too hard? How about these ideas:

Recycling Christmas Cards:

As any VolunteerSpot reader knows, I have a borderline unhealthy relationship with Pinterest. But of course, this benefits you. Here are some fantastic ideas I came across for recycling those Season's Greetings:

save all the old picture cards you receive,

punch a few holes in them and add rings to keep them together...

use as coffee table books at the holidays

Holiday Card Ornaments

Chair garland

Gift tags

When all else fails, drop them in a shoebox for the next school project that requires miscellaneous images {like the beginning of the school year when the Pipsqueak was assigned to create a collage on the front of his planner to "customize" it}

For the tech-savvy:

If tossing items after they've served their purpose is a natural habit for you ... but you want to hang on to some of the memories ::

take a picture of the picture:

using your smart phone or a scanner, make a digital image out of that family picture your best friend from high school sent.

create a screen saver:

at the end of December collect all the pictures from the year that represent good memories ~ including those holiday family pictures from others ~ and save them to a folder titled "Highlights from (year)" then instruct your computer to use that file for the screen saver.

Wa-lah! You can now enjoy memory lane each time your computer is sitting idle for a bit.

No matter what solution seems right for you be sure to keep the guilt factor in check.

So often clients have held on to clutter due to the emotional pull they feel. Truth is, if you asked the person who sent the card if they wanted you to hang on to the clutter or have a better quality of life? I'm sure the sender would tell you "toss it!!"

Fundraising Webinar on Social Media: Recap - VolunteerSpot & Fundly

If you missed our webinar this week - check out the summary!

From boosting participation in real-world fundraising events (think auctions, fun-runs, carnivals, concerts), to running hassle-free online campaigns that turn volunteers and donors into active fundraisers -- learn how to tap into the power of Facebook and Twitter to achieve your fundraising goals faster, easier and with more participation!

Key takeaways:

Add SOCIAL MEDIA when planning your real-world fundraising events and annual and online campaigns to boost turnout, profits and community.

Turning your current Donation Page and newsletter “Donate” links SOCIAL to boost donations and exposure by 50+%.

Your volunteers, members and donors can easily become your best fundraisers by engaging their personal networks.

Amplify ALL your fundraising efforts with facebook and Twitter, even if your organization doesn’t have many followers (chances are your supporters do!)

Teacher Gift Ideas, Simple & Creative

Four Fabulous Festive types of Gifts for the Teacher in your life! Need simple ideas for your kid's school teacher this year? We've collected gift ideas that will practically make themselves, getting you back to the task of enjoying the holidays with your family!

Meaningful & Heartfelt!

Have your child write a letter with a picture to the teacher, (Tip: make a photocopy for the principal's file as well). It can be a simple Thank You & Happy Holidays, or their five favorite memories from the semester.

Create a group digital eCard from all the kids, created from a VolunteerSpot request for parents to add their thoughts to a Google doc (or just emailed in).

Collect donations for ad space and design a special thank you for your local paper or newsletter shouting out your teacher.

Wrap up a box of blank Thank You cards. If a teacher has 30+ students who all send in gifts and do special things for them, that's a lot of thank you responses (and extra expsense) he or she might need to send!

Themed Gifts!

Cozy Night In! Treat the teacher with a basketful of warm goodies including gourmet hot chocolate, teas, and cider with a personalized mug. Top off with warm and fuzzy mittens and a scarf!

Movie Night! Grab a couple fun DVDs, add a pack or two of microwavable popcorn, frozen Jr. Mints and 2 bottles of cream soda to create the perfect movie night! Top off with a gift certificate to the movies! (Label it, “Stay In or Go Out?”)

Holiday on the town! Ask around town for discounted tickets to a local holiday concert or performance

Seasonal Treats! Special treats like mini pies, gourmet cupcakes, chocolates, or muffins-in-a-jar will help to make the season bright (and the tummy happy)!

Get Crafty!

Holiday ornaments are keepsakes which make an appearance year after year - simple ribbon with unique holiday trinkets and a Happy Holidays note on the back create a special remembrance.

Create an idea-folder filled with printed up fun classroom-appropriate craft ideas for the upcoming seasonal months. Scour the internet for terrific ideas including academic related ideas you know will be covered, ex. 5th grade will be American History, so look up Washington and Lincoln crafts.

Closing 2011 With a Bang, Last-Minute Fundraising Ideas

How did it get to be December already? In some ways I feel like I blinked sometime in July and ended up here. Anyone else ever feel that way or is it just me?

Just in case the year has gotten away for you too, here’s a simple strategy to get the most out of the next three weeks. This is, after all, the time of year when organizations typically bring in the bulk of fundraising revenue for the year.

1. Review your donor lists. Identify those people who gave in past years, but haven’t yet this year. Perhaps there is someone who might like to offer a challenge gift. Are there local news outlets that might be open to sharing information about the challenge (hint: news outlets are sometimes more likely to be looking for ‘feel good’ stories at the end of the year).

2. Set a Goal. Having reviewed your donor lists, determine a realistic goal you feel you can reach with that prospect pool. Perhaps you’ll aim to get 10-20% of the donors to renew their gifts. You know your donors best, so go with a number that makes sense for your organization.

3. Select a Project. Identify a specific project that can be accomplished if you reach that fundraising goal.

4. Craft a Message. Develop simple messaging around that project (why is it important and what impact will it have on the community you serve). Don’t worry about fancy graphic design. Just put together a one-page flier and include a picture or two.

5. Make Giving Easy. Make it easy to give (include and envelope and response device with mailings – no you really don’t need to include a stamp). If you don’t already have a way to accept on-line donations you might not want to get distracted by that at this point (although PayPal is an easy affordable option that can be set up quickly if you are so inclined).

6. Reach Out. Contactyour supporters. Call key donors. Send a series of short email messages highlighting the project, goal and results to date to the rest of the database (including a single call to action in each message). You could also ask board members and friends of your group to host a simple house party and invite their friends to be a part.

7. Show Your Gratitude. Say thank you (and say it often) and follow-up to let people know how the campaign did and how people’s lives are being changed as a result of the funded program.

Kirsten Bullock’s passion is providing overwhelmed nonprofit and ministry leaders a systematic process to follow that will help ensure sustainable funding for their organizations. Kirsten has been working with nonprofit organizations since 1995 and earned her designation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2002. Kirsten is currently serving as president elect of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville Chapter. She is an AFP Master Trainer, authors the Growing Your Donors blog and is a contributing blogger for SOFII (The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration). Click here to follow her on Twitter.